THE BOOK OF SORROWS

Another allegorical fantasy, sequel to the famous The Book of the Dun Cow (1978)--but here the battles are spiritual. Strutting Chauntecleer, leader of the Animals, is gnawed by guilt: he feels that the heroic sacrifice made by Mundo Cani Dog (in trapping the evil Wyrm beneath the earth) should have been his; now, he's determined to challenge Wyrm to a showdown. Then, as a frigid winter descends, and the animals suffer great hardships, Chauntecleer discovers Wyrm's lair, and attacks--only to find Wyrm already dead, the vast corpse a festering mass of worms. Was Wyrm's plan this time only to tempt Chauntecleer, who emerges in a blind fury, dealing death? Only in his last moments does he redeem himself. The message is clear, but this heavy, heavy fable is likely to disappoint many Dun Cow fans--especially younger ones.